Help with Scratched windscreen.

penrhyn

I've already posted this in the transport section but I thought I might get more answers here:

In removing a stubborn bird dropping of the windscreen, it has left a scratched area over about a square inch or so, you can hardly feel it with a finger nail, but it catches sun light and is in my field of vision.

Anyhow, Autoglas say that the only thing they can do is replace the screen, this will cost is the £50-60 excess on my policy, which seems overkill to me.

Doing a Google came up with Glas Weld who aim to repair rather than replace.

Has anyone used them or similar outfits and if so would they recommend them.

hebangsthedrums

I used to work for autoglass (cust services not as a tech mind) so here is my 2p

Repair can be done successfully on chips depending on size (anything up to a 50p coin size can be repaired in principle but on certain areas on w/s even repair will fail mot so they will only repair up to 5p coin size in drivers field of vision or zone a for those who know what that is).

Scratches are different however as they cannot be repaired succesfully and if this is attempted this can lead to the w/s cracking (this is the case in any w/s repair but the odds normally are slim with scratches they increase massively).

Previously scratches could be polished out but this is no longer allowed by law as it weaken the screen which is integral to the structure of the car.

Full replacement is only option but i would advise you wait till a few weeks before mot. and dont use autoglass - terrible firm

intel

Jewellers' rouge will remove glass scratches.

penrhyn

Thanks for the information, is it the quality of the work that is no good with Autoglass as its them I ended up with when ringing the insurance's glass line (Churchill).
Who would you recommend?

hebangsthedrums

the quallity of work is generally very high. their strength is the materials, which are second to none the screens uised are the best available. the problem is that the appointments given are sometimes unreliable and when things do go often the blame game is played. the HO and branches have poor communication which is generally the cause of issues - if you do go with autoglass i would suggest you check your appointment with the branch after making it as your insurance line puts you though to the call centre at HO. the problem is HO advisors are (as with most call centres admittedly so may be the same elsewhere) given targets so rush through and the staff turnover is massive.

As for alternatives autowindscreens are a good firm - my dad works in a garage and they use them and the fitter is a really nice chap. can i ask what make & model the car is as some screens all firms fit pretty much the same but if you hav a merc, lexus bmw, jag etc it might be worth going with autoglass as they use the same spec screen as the manufacturer

penrhyn

Its a Nissan Almera latest shape.

hebangsthedrums

your fine to use autowindscreens then - for nissans (as far as im aware) them and autoglass source the glass from the same place.